Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, May 17: Kerala Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan on Sunday announced a 21-member Cabinet ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala.
Addressing a press conference, Satheesan said the oath-taking ceremony would be held at 10 am on Monday and noted that, after nearly six decades, the entire UDF Cabinet would take oath together.
“After 60 years, the entire UDF cabinet is set to take the oath tomorrow at 10 AM. We have completed the entire process within 24 hours, a feat unprecedented in the history of Kerala. This was possible because, even after the elections, Team UDF remains Team UDF. The leaders respect each other,” he said.
Satheesan said the alliance had submitted the list of ministers to the Governor and confirmed that 21 ministers, including himself, would be sworn in. He added that the Indian National Congress would have 11 ministers in the Cabinet.
“We have 63 MLAs. Consequently, there are many individuals who could not be accommodated in the cabinet, in fact, more eligible than many others who were selected,” he said.
According to Satheesan, the Cabinet list was finalised after consultations among alliance partners and approval from the Congress high command, while ensuring social and regional balance.
The Congress ministers in the Cabinet include VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, Sunny Joseph, Bindhu Krishna, AP Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunadh, M Liju, Roji M John, T Siddique, OJ Janeesh and KA Thulasi.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) ministers are PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Shamsudeen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor.
Other ministers include Mons Joseph from Kerala Congress, Shibu Baby John from Revolutionary Socialist Party, Anoop Jacob from Kerala Congress (Jacob) and CP John from Communist Marxist Party.
The UDF also decided to appoint Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker.
Satheesan said senior Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
He added that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would also attend.
Satheesan said Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Binoy Viswam are also expected to be present.
On portfolio allocation, Satheesan said final discussions were still underway and the official list would be submitted to the Governor before being notified officially.